PIGS FOR EXPORT.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 221, 26 January 1928, Page 6

PIGS FOR EXPORT.

DUROC-JERSEY BREED. Mr. C. E. Robertson writes : Now that it is allowable, by special permit, to import purebred pigs from Canada, I would like to again draw the attention of pig-breeders in New Zealand to the merits of the American Duroc-Jersey breed of pigs. When in the Argentine in 1924 I was greatly attracted by this breed, and in conversation with the English judge of pigs at the Palermo International Show (who by the way was Mr. E. Thomiinson, a leading breeder of Large Whites and the mating breeder of Sir Albert Greenall’s stud of Large Whites, held-to be the foremost in England) he informed me that it was the first time he had seen and judged Duroc-Jerseys, and his i considered opinion was that they were the finest utility bred of pigs he had seen. Mr. Juan Champion, the largest breeder of pigs in the Argentine, and who was reputed to have netted a fortune of a million pounds sterling out of pig-breeding and fattening, informed me that after four years’ experience he had decided to concentrate very largely on this breed. He had bred and fed all breeds of pigs, but found ihe Duroc-Jersey to be the best utility pig, of ideal conformation for the export trade, a very quick-growing pig, and a great doer in the open. I described this breed of pigs on returning from a trip to the Argentine, United States and Canada in 1924. About 50 per cent, of the pigs in North America are of this breed, and, let me add, in addition to its huge local consumption of pig products the United States exports to Britain each year 300,000,0001 bof bacon, 125,000,0001 bof ham and over 300,000,0001 b of other pig products. The fact also that the American farmer receives on an average £20,000,000 per month for his pigs during the six months of the selling season indicates that the American breeder of pigs has long since developed into a specialist. I saw the Duroc-Jersey pigs at the Pacific Coast International S'how in California winning the car-load classes. A car-load comprises 50 pigs. This was one of the greatest educations that we received during our trip abroad. My purpose in writing this letter is to draw attention to the published results in the Argentine Review of the River Plate of the recent competitions held there in connection with the export trade in pigs. The report reads as follows: “ The annbal block test, organised by the Argentine Pig Breeders’ Association to determine the most appropriate type of pigs for the export trade, was carried out in Swift’s La Plata freezing plant the other day, when there was a good entry of a very appropriate and most desirable stamp of pigs for the present-day requirements of the trade. The president of the Argentine Pig Breeders’ Association, Mr. J. C. Campion, in a very interesting and instructive address referred to the lessons and advantages obtained from such a competition, which demonstrated the most acceptable type of pig for the present - day requirements of the freezers and which also revealed the radical evolution that has been brought about in regard to the qualities a pig ought to possess. Only two years ago there were as many types of pigs as animals exhibited, and it can be realised that in order to correct the defects of such animals it would have been advantageous to have placed their heads behind, as their hams were poor in contrast to their prominent shoulders. The inversion would have more appropriately represented the present-day preferred type for freezer requirements. The first prize was awarded to a pen shown by Mr. J. C. Campion that averaged 93 kilos, live weight. These pigs were DurocJersey, as well as the second-prize lot, which were also of the same breed and presented by the same exhibitor. Mr. John Nelson won the third prize with a lot of Large White-Duroc-Jersey cross that averaged 83 kilos, live weight. The fourth prize went to a pen of Duroc-Jersey-Poland-China cross shown by Mr. J. C. Campion that averaged 90 kilos, live weight.” As it is essential for this country to secure the very best of all breeds of live stock in order to compete against overseas countries more advantageously situated in regard to the markets of the world I am convinced that an importation of this breed of pigs would be a national benefit. I recently had the opportunity of inspecting a small shipment

of Tamworth pigs from Canada, and judging by the quality and conformation of these there is no doubt importations of further pigs from Canada would be an advantage to this country, which, after all, has in the past received little encouragement to import and 3breed the higher types required to-day. Naturally I have no call to advocate American pigs as against British, but it has to be remembered that America is the pig-breeding country of the wo rid.